Speech #1000107320

As I say. it was tough: by only seven votes in the House. I do hope my colleagues are listening. and it is tough as we all do so much around this fascinating arena. The cruel irony of this amendment. and it is very real. is that it will treat illegal. undocumented immigrants more generously than we treat legal immigrants in the United States. I think everyone should be aware of that. It is all right if you do that. Just know what we are doing. It treats illegal immigrants better and more generously than it treats legal immigrants. Under our present legal immigration system a new permanent resident alien who does not enter with his immediate family members has to apply through the preference system for his entire family to immigrate. That is the present law. In such cases there is a wait for 16 months for the nationals of most countries and longer waits in countries of high visa demand: Mexico. Philippines. some other Asian countrieswhich can be 6. 8. or even 10 years. I am talking now about legal immigration. not illegal immigration. As the newly legalized aliens receive permanent resident alien status. then they may apply for the admission of their family members in the same manner that legal immigrants or residents do now. I think that is very important to remember. First they go into temporary resident alien status. 18 months under this legalization. under the new bill. Then. 5 years of permanent resident alien status. and then into naturalization or citizenship if they wish. They need never come into that if they do not want to. Many choose not to.